He stalks toward me, and I prepare myself for the worst. Something explodes suddenly, and I scream as stone dust rains down on the room and creates a hazy fog.
What now?
Xavier whirls around, but he’s slammed into the wall beside me before I can see whatever is crashing the party this time. My heart hits my throat when I see the familiar blue eyes attached to a dangerously pissed face as Zee stares down Xavier.
A rush of red power fills the room, and Zee staggers, but he throws his arm out and red streaks with blue streaks sail toward the red jinn. Xavier hits the ground hard, and Zee stalks over, seeming unaffected by the red power that knocked Ella, Kimber, and me out earlier.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Xavier snaps, rushing toward Zee to tackle him, but Zee spins and slams the guy’s head into the wall. Rubble falls, and Zee tosses him to the other side of the room.
Xavier crashes into that wall, tearing up more of the stone foundation. The ceiling cracks in warning, letting them know the fight will destroy everything soon.
A red puff of power slams against Zee, and he’s launched backwards, but he digs up the concrete floor with his feet, planting himself firmly in place and pushing back against the force. With a roar, he pushes out more power, and electric streaks slam into Xavier with enough force to drive him up the wall.
Zee holds on, pushing more and more volts of power out like he’s a limitless force of nature. Xavier cries out before gargling on his own blood, and his eyes dim to black pits before Zee releases his hold.
Xavier’s body crashes to the ground with a thud, and Zee turns all of his attention on me. As lethal and dangerous as he looks, I’ve never felt so relieved and safe in all my life.
When his eyes drop to my broken ankles, more fury clouds his eyes. He curses before he comes over and rips the chains out of the walls that are securing me in place.
His hand brushes my cheek, and he looks me in the eyes, as though he’s searching for something. This would be a really great moment to cry.
“Thank you,” I whisper hoarsely.
His eyes soften, and he bends low to tear off the chain that is on my right ankle. Pain shoots up my leg from the jarring motion, and I cry out without meaning to.
“Sorry,” he soothes, kissing my cheek. “I’m so, so sorry.”
I lean into him, holding onto his shoulders with my still-chained hands. “Don’t be. Just get them off. I’m okay.”
“Damn it,” I hear someone hiss, looking around the room. “You were supposed to fucking wait on my order.”
“Not now, Kane,” Zee growls. “Just find Ella.”
Zee rips off the next chain on my ankle, and I bite back the scream that wants to escape me. My eyes water, but still no tears fall.
The ones on my wrists don’t hurt as bad when he rips them free, and he snaps off the one on my middle like it’s a twig instead of four inches of metal.
“She’s not here!” Kimber shouts, then suddenly Chaz is in my face, pushing Zee aside.
“Where is Ella?” he demands, glaring at me like this is my fault.
Zee slams his fist into Chaz’s face, and Chaz staggers back, looking ready for a fight.
“Get the fuck away from her,” Zee warns, then bends to pick me up.
“I’m just looking for Ella, you dick. Where is she?”
His eyes fall on me again, waiting impatiently, but I’m too busy trying not to scream in agony when my ankles clank together from the force of being scooped up.
Zee holds me to him, kissing my forehead, and I weakly wrap my arms around him, seeking more safety in his touch, since Chaz looks like he wants me dead now.
“Slade,” I whisper, tensing as I prepare for an outburst. They’ll blame me. Just like Slade did. Just like that other one did.
They’re monsters and I’m a monster killer. Yet they’re the ones hunting me… hurting me… trying to destroy me for who I am.
Zee kisses my head again, and I relax somewhat, but Kane and Chaz both start shouting, saying things too fast and too loud for me to even understand.
“It’s not your fault. It’s mine,” Zee whispers softly. “I sent you away and sent her with you. I didn’t think Slade would have the balls to do something like this.”